Month: October 2018

BOOK NEWS: October 16, 2018

BOOK NEWS: October 16, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

We are halfway through October, but there are three Tuesday release days to go. Here are some of the books releasing this week!

Books for Kids

Be Bold Baby: Michelle Obama AND Be Bold Baby: Oprah (Bd Book) – These board books include quotes from the women they are about. Each book ends with a mirror.
Dream Big, Little One (Bd Book) – Board book edition of the fabulous Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History.
Good Night Aerospace Museum (Bd Book) – Part of the Good Night Our World series.
Candace Center Stage – A dancing-focused picture book from Candace Cameron Bure.
How Rude! – Dot invites Duck to a tea party, but his behavior leaves a lot to be desired.
Life with My Family – A girl imagines her blended family as different families of animals
No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas – A tale of perseverance!
The Surprise Storm AND A Dragon in the Castle? – Lego has a new line of early readers featuring Disney Princesses. There are two others out today as well – Lost and Found AND The Friendship Bridge.
True Colors: The Story of Crayola (History of Fun Stuff) – The history behind Crayola.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

I’m OK – A boy who’s trying to help his mom make ends meet starts a hair braiding business at school.
The Land of Stories: The Ultimate Book Hugger’s Guide – A behind the scenes look at the Land of Stories series.
Mya in the Middle – Book 3 in the Magnificent Mya Tibbs series. Middle child Mya is feeling overlooked at home and a school project leaves her feeling in the middle there, too. This looks like a fun series!
Ogre Enchanted – A girl who turns down her friend’s marriage proposal is turned into an ogre by a meddling fairy. A companion novel to Ella Enchanted.
Operation ShuFongFong (Graphic Novel) – Book one in a new Geronimo Stilton graphic novel series, Geronimo Stilton Reporter, based on a Netflix animated series.
Short & Skinny (graphic novel) – An autobiographical graphic novel about the author’s youth in the 70s.
Sif and the Dwarf’s Treasure – Book 2 in the Thunder Girls series based on Norse mythology. From the authors of the Goddess Girls series (Greek Mythology).
Sven Carter & the Android Army – Book 2 in the Sven Carter series from MAX where the main character is part boy, part robot.
Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday – Dork Diaries, book 13
Unwritten – A fictional character “rescued” from her book and brought into the real world seeks out her author to find out the truth of her story. This sounds terrific!
Dinosaur Devotions – Devotions and dinosaur facts!
Lafayette! (Graphic Novel) – Book 8 in the Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales series of graphic novels. I love this non-fiction graphic novel series!
Science Comics: The Brain – Another nonfiction graphic novel series, this one focusing on  science.
What Is The Women’s Rights Movement? AND What Were the Roaring Twenties?
Easy Prey – Three students had access to a teacher’s racy photos before they went viral. Who leaked them?
Phantom Wheel – Six kids recruited for the CIA find that they have been tricked into creating a computer virus that can hack anyone and anywhere. This sounds like a book I will love.
How to Build Brick Airplanes – For Lego fans who are ready for more intricate builds.

Books for Adults

Adult Time (Paperback) – The latest cartoon collection for fans of Baby Blues. I love books like this! They make fun Christmas gifts. Includes commentary from the authors.
Ask Me No Questions (Hardcover) – First in the new Lady Dunbridge mystery series set in 1907 about a woman who recently lost her husband.
The Christmas Star (Small Hardcover) – The latest Christmas story from Donna VanLiere. A girl in foster care plays matchmaker for an after-school program volunteer. I loved the last one of these I read, so I have already requested this one from the library.
Dance Like Everybody’s Watching! (Paperback) – The latest cartoon collection for fans of Zits.
Dear Santa (Trade Paperback) – You’ve Got Mail with a Christmas twist. A woman running her family’s Christmas shop writes to Santa through an app about the national chain that has come to town, not knowing that the guy from the chain is the one answering the Dear Santa letters. Yep, I’ve requested this one from the library, too. I am ready to get my Christmas reading started!
Deck the Hounds (Hardcover) – Book 18 in the fantastic Andy Carpenter series. Rosenfelt’s 2016 Christmas book, The Twelve Dogs of Christmas, was the first Andy Carpenter book I read, and it launched me into my quest to read every book in the series. I hardly ever start a series from book 15 – but I am so glad I did in this case! In this book, Andy and his wife get more than they bargained for when they reach out at the holidays to help a homeless man and his dog. I already have this one on hold at the library!
Lark! the Herald Angels Sing (Hardcover) – Another mystery series with great Christmas books is the Meg Langslow series by Donna Andrews. This time Meg’s brother, Rob, is named as the father of an unknown baby left in the manger at their church’s live Nativity. This is book 24 in the series. I have this one on hold at the library, too.
Almost Everything: Notes on Hope (thin Hardcover) – The latest from Anne Lamott along the lines of Help, Thanks, Wow and Hallelujah Anyway.
Enneagram of Eating: How the 9 Personality Types Influence Your Food, Diet and Exercise Choices. (Trade Paperback) – I love anything about the Enneagram, but since this isn’t from an author I know, I may get this one from the library to check it out.
G’Morning, G’Night!: Little Pep Talks for Me & You  – If you follow Lin Manuel-Miranda on social media, you know right away what these are. I’m looking forward to this one immensely!
Pasta, Pretty Please: A Vibrant Approach to Handmade Noodles (Hardcover) – If you have seen @SaltySeattle on Instagram, you know how beautiful her work is. The pictures in this book alone will get me to buy it. This looks stunning!
Scum and Villainy: Case Files on the Galaxy’s Most Notorious (Hardcover) – For the Star Wars fan, this covers the smugglers, bounty hunters and pirates of the Star Wars Universe.

REVIEW: Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

REVIEW: Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Readers may know Jarrett J. Krosoczka from his previous work. He is the author and illustrator of many picture books as well as the Lunch Lady graphic novel series, the Platypus Police Squad middle grade series (LOVED those), and the second phase of the Jedi Academy books.

Adults may know Krosoczka from his popular TED Talk called “How a Boy Became an Artist.” It’s an inspiring story of his development as an artist and illustrator. And it hints at his childhood experiences. Hey Kiddo, Krosoczka’s new graphic novel memoir, tells more of that story.

Krosoczka was raised by his grandparents due to his mother’s addiction to heroin. His mom was in and out of his life as she was in and out of treatment and jail. Jarrett didn’t meet his father until high school. The details of his home situation impacted him as he grew up and as he developed as an artist. Hey Kiddo shares some of the significant moments of that journey.

Review

This graphic novel memoir for teens is moving and inspiring. I loved it. It’s definitely for a mature audience – teens and older. There’s some language and a few dark moments in his story. He doesn’t shy away from the emotions of his journey – the anger and despair when his mom didn’t show up for important things, his discomfort with anyone finding out she was in jail, etc. Kids who have experienced similar things will feel seen and understood – maybe for the first time – by reading this. Readers who have not walked a similar path have an opportunity to gain insight and empathy for others. And any reader can be inspired by Jarrett’s journey to his creative career.

There are several pages of notes in the back that were even more moving than the book itself. One note shares the rest of the story about Jarrett and his family. Another note focuses on the art included in the book. I love that the book has scans of Jarrett’s actual childhood pictures and letters exchanged with his mom.

This is an excellent, engaging and thought-provoking story. If you love Krosoczka’s work or if you love memoirs or graphic novels, don’t miss this one!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

REVIEW: When We Found Home by Susan Mallery

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Jerry Carlesso was a salesman for his father’s company, Alberto’s Alfresco. As he traveled around the country, he had “a woman in every port” so to speak. Jerry loved the ladies. But when a few of those ladies got pregnant, Jerry was long gone.

Malcolm’s mother sought out Alberto Carlesso when Malcolm was twelve. She was dying and knew Malcolm would need someone to care for him when she was gone. Jerry was completely disinterested, but Alberto welcomed his grandson with open arms.

When Jerry died many years later, Alberto discovered two granddaughters he didn’t know existed. Keira was twelve and living in foster care in LA. Alberto found her and moved her into their enormous Seattle home. Callie, who was closer to Malcolm’s age, was harder to find.

With a felony on her record from a moment of idiocy at eighteen, Callie stayed under the radar. Her record made it hard to find steady work. When Alberto’s lawyer showed up, she was skeptical but hardly in a a position to refuse the offer of a home.

Now these three people, linked by biology but world’s apart, are trying to negotiate what it means to be family. It’s possible that a DNA connection won’t be enough to hold them together.

Review

This was fantastic! I was hooked right from the start watching 34-year-old Malcolm try to figure out how to integrate a pre-teen into his life. I expected him to be the arrogant, aloof, workaholic type. But he was genuinely motivated to care for Keira but entirely clueless about how to do that. Malcolm was my favorite character in the book. But Callie and Keira were close seconds. I loved how Callie, so used to protecting herself and being alone, connected with Keira immediately.

There are two romantic side plots to this – one for Callie and one for Malcolm – which were great. Both of those had things to contribute to the story about family as well. There were two detailed romantic scenes that were unexpected  with the tone and focus of the rest of the story. It almost felt like they were there out of obligation – I have to throw these in so this can be a “romance” – rather than part of the flow of the book. They are a small part of the larger story.

Susan Mallery is a prolific author, but this is the first book of hers I have read. I will absolutely be checking out the rest of the collection to see if there are more stories with characters like these. And if she decides to write more with the stars of this book, I will be first in line for a sequel.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

REVIEW: Definitely Daphne by Tami Charles

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Stone Arch Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Annabelle had no idea what was in store for her. Since her mom’s in the military, they’ve moved a lot. She thought this move to New Jersey from Germany would be like all the rest – her mom would do her stuff, her dad would work from home and homeschool Annabelle.

Not this time.

Shy Annabelle is off to middle school, full of cliques, strange customs and expressions she doesn’t know. When Annabelle announces she wants to quit after the first day, her parents send her to a therapist to help with the transition.

The therapist thinks Annabelle’s love of making movies could be the key to helping her make some friends and adjust to her new circumstances. Annabelle agrees to try it under a few conditions. Her account has to be private – family viewing only. And she’ll use her middle name – Daphne – and only be on camera with a disguise. There’s just one part of the plan she doesn’t tell the adults – she’s going to use the vlog to show how awful school is so she can go back to homeschooling!

Review

I loved everything about this! Annabelle is so relateable. From the new school and friend issues to her vlog and therapy to her feelings about her mom’s deployment. It’s all real and familiar.

Annabelle goes through some ups and downs. She tries on some new identities in the story – both “Daphne” and others – with mixed results. Through it all I couldn’t stop cheering for her.

The “Daphne Doesn’t” vlogs were great – things kids will definitely recognize about school. And the blog was a way for shy Annabelle to share her thoughts and feelings – and be affirmed for them. Which eventually gave her some confidence to share with those closest to her. She even has the gumption to reach out to someone who doesn’t make it easy, but who needs a friend just like Annabelle does.

This was absolutely perfect from start to finish – a delight to read. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

BOOK NEWS: October 9, 2018

BOOK NEWS: October 9, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy Pumpkin Spice Latte season! Let’s take a look at some of the books out later this week!

Books for Kids

 

1 Grumpy Bruce (Board Book) – The star of the terrific Mother Bruce series gets his first board book. I can’t wait to see this one in person. If you haven’t checked out Bruce’s Christmas book, Santa Bruce, you should.
You Are: Speaking God’s Word Over Your Children (Board Book) – This is another one I am eager to see in person. From the sample pages I have seen, this is one I would have loved to have when my son was little.
The Very Last Castle – A girl wonders what happens in the last castle still standing in her town. I wonder too! This is on my must-read list.
A Girl Named Helen (American Girl) – Biography of Helen Keller
News from Me Lucy McGee – A young songwriter deals with a school bully and finds that enjoying being herself is the best revenge. I’d love to read this new early chapter book, the kick off of a series.
Unicorns and Germs – I’m a huge fan of the Zoey and Sassafras series. In this, the 6th book in the series, Zoey meets a giant unicorn in a lot of pain. I love the science threads in this series as well as the fantasy elements. I’m excited about this one!

Books for Old Kids/Teens/Young Adults

The Collectors – A boy who collects the lost trinkets of others discovers a girl stealing coins from a fountain and follows her to an underground world full of wishes and the people who collect them. First in a new duology.
The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone – A girl who has been raised by her aunt (her parents were killed by pirates while they were off having adventures without her) discovers a series of clues in her parents’ will that send her off on an adventure. Yes, please!
Grenade – An historical novel set in 1945 about a Japanese boy and a young American Marine in Okinawa.
In Your Shoes – A girl who dislikes living above the family funeral home meets an anxious boy whose family owns the local bowling alley. That’s about all I know about this one – but I want to know more!
Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment – A genius is recruited to help other kids like her solve the world’s problems with science. This is at the top of my list for the week!
The Perfect Secret – As is this one. Book 2 in the Perfect Score series by one of my favorite Middle Grade authors, Rob Buyea. I loved the first book, and I can’t wait to read what happens with this group of kids as they move up to 7th grade. I have already requested this one from the library!
Soof – A girl tries to find her place in the world while her family struggles through a bout of bad luck. A companion novel to the book So. B. It.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Illustrated) – After the first three Harry Potter books received the illustrated treatment, I wondered how they were going to handle a book the size of Goblet of Fire, or the latter books in the series. I guess for now they are going to handle it by turning to some of the smaller books in the collection. The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of stories that figures largely into the action of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now fully illustrated.
Twice Magic – Book 2 in the Wizards of Once series by the author of How to Train Your Dragon. I have book 1 on my wish list at the library. In this book, the boy Wizard and the girl Warrior team up again, this time to fight an Evil Spell.
Wicked Nix – A fairy left to guard the forest runs into trouble when he tries to run off a determined intruder. I am curious about this one.
Kid Scientists: True Tales of Childhood from Science Superstars – The latest in this nonfiction series, this time focusing on scientists like Jane Goodall and Katherine Johnson (per the cover).
Anything but Okay – A friendship is in danger of destruction when one girl’s brother returns home from military service and then is arrested for assault. I’m intrigued to see how the author puts all the pieces together in this one.
Dear Evan Hansen – A novelization of the hit Broadway musical.
Hearts Unbroken – A Native American student responds to everything from her boyfriend’s disrespect of Native people to the community’s reaction about an inclusive casting of The Wizard of Oz. I am fascinated by the whole idea of this one. This is high on my list for this week.
Hey, Kiddo – A graphic novel memoir about the childhood of author Jarrett J. Krosoczka as his mother struggled with addiction. This is a mature story for older readers – teens, young adults, and adults. I’ll be reviewing this one later this week, but it was excellent. Moving and thought-provoking.

Books for Adults

Bird, Bath and Beyond (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Agent to the Paws mystery series. Kay is birdsitting a client when the bird becomes the only witness to a murder. I thoroughly enjoyed book one, and will definitely be reading book two!
Catching Christmas (small format Hardcover) – A first year law associate and a cab driver connect over a wheelchair-bound old lady who is on the hunt for a date for her granddaughter. Right now I am maxed out on how many holds the library will allow me, but as soon as I get some wiggle room, this one is on my list!
A Crafter Knits a Clue (Hardcover) – First in the Handcrafted Mystery series. A woman returns to her home town (in Wisconsin!) for the funeral of her best friend and discovers her friend’s craft shop is in danger of closing. So she moves home to take over the store – and then finds a dead body. Yep, I’ll be adding this to my library list, too!
Fight or Flight (Trade Paperback) – An annoying fellow-passenger on a flight becomes something much steamier – and more complicated. This sounds like a fun romance.
Mycroft and Sherlock (Hardcover) – The latest from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s series about Mycroft Holmes. I’d love to try the first one in this series.
The Royal Runaway (Trade Paperback) – A princess desperate to get out from under the duties that have complicated her life encounters a guy who at first blush could be the one to help her experience a few moments as just a normal woman. But no, he’s her ex’s brother – and a spy who is not above blackmail. I have this one in my Amazon cart – it sounds perfect!
Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. (Hardcover) – The latest from Brené Brown focuses on leadership. I have loved everything I have read by Brené, so I will definitely be reading this one!
The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament (Hardcover) – An exploration of the Old Testament specifically highlighting connections to Jesus and the Good News. This is on my Christmas list!
If You Ask Me: Essential Advice from Eleanor Roosevelt (Hardcover) – If I had to read about any famous family from history, the Roosevelts would be my choice every time. I’m looking forward to reading this one, too.
See It Feelingly: Classic Novels, Autistic Readers, and the Schooling of a No-Good English Professor (Oct. 12 – Hardcover) – Written by an English professor whose son was one of the first non-speaking autistic students to graduate from college. This is part-memoir and part autism research review. Sounds like a fascinating book.

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Early Readers

SATURDAY SMORGASBORD: Early Readers

Posted on by Jaymie

As a teacher, and as a parent, I always loved early readers! They are the approximate size of an adult hardcover book, but they are thin. Different publishers produce them, and each one has its own “leveling” or “stage” information. Their size makes them great for small hands; colorful pictures and a wide range of difficulty make them terrific for lots of kids. There are a ton of categories for the format, so there’s something for everyone. Here are some examples:

Nonfiction

Nonfiction is one of my favorite uses of this format. As a librarian, I loved these for my younger students who were very strong readers because the format is for younger readers but there’s a full range of reading levels. The books are generally not over 50 pages or so (with illustrations). In nonfiction, you will find biographies, mythology, animal books, science exploration, geography and history. Some books use actual photographs and others use illustrations. Some of my favorite series here are the Science of Fun Stuff line and the Secrets of American History series. The authors do a fantastic job of writing accurate and engaging informational texts.

Familiar Characters – Books

Book characters from picture books – The Cat in the Hat, Fancy Nancy, Louise, Pete the Cat, Rocket, and Splat for example – can grow with readers when they show up in early readers. You’ll notice in these examples that the stories in early reader format are less complex and use a simpler vocabulary. This way, kids who have enjoyed these characters when parents have read their picture books aloud can now practice their own reading skills with those same characters.

Sometimes you will also see characters from chapter books show up in early readers. The illustrated Judy Moody and Friends line is the same size as the early readers, but they are longer (around 64 pages) and have more intricate stories. But they are also simpler stories than the transitional chapter books staring Judy and her brother, Stink. The new Magic School Bus books from Scholastic Branches (transitional chapter books) and these early readers have a similar look making for a nice transition between the series.

Familiar Characters – Popular Culture

Publishers often release early readers for new kid-friendly movies like Hotel Transylvania or SmallFoot. You can also find early readers for a lot of popular characters like Charlie Brown or Charlie the Ranch Dog (who also has picture books) and any number of superheros.  DK Publishing produces a lot of Lego books in this format – their Disney Princess line is new and there are also books related to the various Lego movies. Of course, there are also plenty of Star Wars early readers as well as some from American Girl.

Range of Reading Levels and Topics

Readers can find books about feelings and sports and faith and Jesus in this format. There are also books with simple text and vocabulary for kids who are barely starting to sound out simple words. (The Space Cows and Party Pigs books look so FUN! I have to go track those down in person.)

Early readers can meet a variety of needs with this fun, simple format at a great price (usually $3.99 per book).

REVIEW: That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

REVIEW: That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Three years ago on March 15, there was a shooting at Virgil County High School. Nine people were killed. Six students survived their encounter with the shooter.

The story is that Lee’s best friend, Sarah, died proclaiming her faith to the shooter. Lee was with Sarah when she died. And she knows Sarah never talked to him. However that rumor got started, the faith community in Virgil County, and Sarah’s parents are really attached to the story of Sarah’s martyrdom. In fact, Sarah’s parents are writing a book about Sarah. And they plan to include the story about the shooting in the book.

Lee loved Sarah like a sister. She can’t stomach the thought that the thing everyone wants to remember about her best friend is a lie. Sarah should be remembered as she really was.

So Lee asks the other survivors to write up their experiences from the shooting. Not everyone is eager to dig deeper into their memories of that awful day. And one of the six has left town and doesn’t want to be found. But her story is the one people need to hear most of all.

Review

Wow! This was stunningly good. I loved the emphasis on the survivors and the aftermath of the shooting. Most of the active shooter stories I have read have focused on the event itself. The focus here was on how the survivors are dealing with the trauma. I’m fascinated by the research the author must have done. I can’t help but think of the kids who have experienced a real school shooting this year and how they might be coping or struggling.

The hook for me was the martyrdom piece of this. The story started innocently, but the people were so attached to that narrative, they became awfully un-Christian to anyone who questioned it. This whole piece of the story was captivating.

As Lee pursued the whole story from all of the survivors, she also had to wrestle with WHY she needed to know. What was she willing to risk to have the whole story? What were the others willing to risk to share their truth? This would be an amazing book club book – for teens or for adults. SO many great details and characters to discuss. I highly recommend this book!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Sadie: An Amish Retelling of Snow White by Sarah Price

REVIEW: Sadie: An Amish Retelling of Snow White by Sarah Price

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley and Zebra in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

The forest is Sadie’s favorite place to be. She loves being in God’s creation, listening to the birds and watching the wildlife. It’s her happy place.

Her home used to be a happy place, when it was just her and her parents. Even after they lost her mother, Sadie and her daed were close, making the best of their life. And the early days with Rachel as Sadie’s step-mother were good. But as the years went by without Rachel getting pregnant, her personality changed. She became bitter and resentful. And a lot of her anger was directed at Sadie.

So the forest is Sadie’s refuge from Rachel’s hatefulness. The forest is also where Sadie meets Frederick, an Amish man from a nearby community. He loves teasing Sadie and goes out of his way to spend time with her. But Rachel has her own plans for Sadie. When Sadie feels trapped by her own family and their expectations, she flees to the forest in search of a safe place to hide.

Review

While Ella remains my favorite book in this series, Belle and Sadie are terrific! The author does a masterful job of weaving the classic story – Snow White in this case – into a believable Amish context. I zoom through chapter after chapter to see what elements she’s going to use and how she is going to fit them in.

I enjoyed the character of Sadie. I appreciated her wrestling between generosity and obedience regarding her neighbor and her strong boundaries where she stands up for herself with her family and others. The situation with Sadie’s step-mother built slowly and intentionally to the point where I was holding my breath to see how far Rachel’s manipulation would go. I was completely invested in what might happen to Sadie.

I hope there will be more stories in this series. I have adored each book so far. I cannot recommend this series highly enough!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Reckless Club by Beth Vrabel

REVIEW: The Reckless Club by Beth Vrabel

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Running Press Kids in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

  • Jason, The Nobody
  • Lilith, The Drama Queen
  • Wes, The Flirt
  • Ally, The Athlete
  • Rex, The Rebel

Five teens spend their last free Saturday before starting high school at the Northbrook Retirement Village. This is their penance. Because of their choices at the end of eighth grade, they have “detention.” This day of service will be their punishment and will hopefully teach them something so that they make better choices in the future.

The kids may have gone to the same middle school, but that doesn’t mean they are friends. Jason rarely strings a whole sentence together, but his sketch book tells a lot of stories. Lilith is hoping to redeem the day by developing character ideas from some of the elderly folks at the Village. Wes turns on the charm and has everyone eating out of his hand. Ally has her father’s words ringing in her ears – complaints that this is a lost day of practice, and admonishments to make up for it wherever she can. Rex is the one they all know. Her anger is legendary around the school.

What will happen when these five students come together for a day of service and senior citizens?

Review

This is The Breakfast Club meets The Golden Girls. And it’s outstanding! I loved everything about this – the characters, the humor and the heart. A slam dunk from start to finish.

The kids take turns telling the story, like a Rob Buyea novel (Saving Mr. Terupt, The Perfect Score, etc.), which is a structure I love in middle grade novels. It allows the reader to be in the head of a variety of characters and personalities. But the students in this weren’t the only great characters. The elderly folks at Northbrook were so fun! Agnes was my absolute favorite, although there were several close seconds. And the dynamic between the facility manager and the kids’ principal was a hoot!

For 80% of the story, the reader is learning the characters, watching them warm up to each other and then push each other away. The reader is putting the various puzzles together. And just when you have a good feel for everyone, the author hits you with the heart. All the build up pays off. I was surrounded by a pile of tissues for the ending. It was perfect. I was sad to see the story come to an end. I would love to spend more time with these characters – both the elderly ones and the teens. There are several nods to The Breakfast Club, but they are subtle and clever and fit right in without being a distraction.

This is my new favorite middle grade for 2018. It’s been a great year for middle grade, and this is a terrific addition to the collection.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++

BOOK NEWS: October 2, 2018

BOOK NEWS: October 2, 2018

Posted on by Jaymie

Happy October! I hope the beginning of the fall season is treating you right. There are a LOT of books releasing this week. Here are some of the ones that caught my eye:

Books for Kids

Builder Brothers: Big Plans – The Property Brothers now have a picture book!
Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton – A picture book biography about Eliza Hamilton. There are several books about Eliza releasing this fall. Be sure to check them out. Her story is fascinating.
I Am Human – A celebration of the possibilities in life and being our best selves and caring for others. With illustrations by Peter H. Reynolds.
Jane Goodall AND L. M. Montgomery (Little People, Big Dreams) – The latest picture book biographies from the Little People, Big Dreams series. I love the illustrations for this series. I’d especially like to read these two new books.
Max and the Superheroes – Max and his friends love superheroes. Max’s favorite is Megapower, but his friends aren’t sure a girl superhero could really be that super. Max knows she is because Megapower is his mom. This one is on my list.
Octopus Escapes – Security guard vs Octopus escapee. This looks adorable!
Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library – 8×8 paperback book starring Pete the Cat
Potato Pants – From the fabulous author of Arnie the Doughnut and The Scrambled States of America comes this book about a potato, his eggplant nemesis and a sale on pants. I HAVE to read this one and get the scoop on this crazy story!
The Wall in the Middle of the Book – A knight is certain that his side of the wall in the middle of the book is the safest.
I Lost My Tooth – The first book in the Unlimited Squirrels series by Mo Willems. A squirrel loses a tooth and his friends try to help him find it.
Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters – The fantastic picture book series by Andrea Beaty has expanded into an early chapter book series called The Questioneers! There is a lot of positive buzz about this book online. I can’t wait to read it for myself.
Start Now!: You Can Make a Difference – A book just for early chapter book readers on activism and making a difference in the world.

Books for Older Kids/Teens/Young Adults

9 From the Nine Worlds – More stories starring the cast of the Magnus Chase series by Rick Riordan.
The Battle of the Labyrinth (Graphic Novel) – Book 4 in the fabulous original Percy Jackson series gets the graphic novel treatment. My teen and I have enjoyed the graphic novel versions of this terrific series!
The Bookshop Girl – The Jones family has won a humongous bookshop in a contest, but the former owner seems to be hiding something. I am so looking forward to reading this one!
Clash of Beasts – Book 3 in the Going Wild series from the author of the Unwanteds series. Three kids are trying to stop a villain who wants to turn all of humanity into monstrous beasts.
Definitely Daphne – To cope with their recent move and her mom’s upcoming deployment, Annabelle agrees to vlog as a way to step out of her comfort zone. When she’s onscreen as Daphne, she can say how she really feels. I’ll be reviewing this one next week – it was terrific!
Dog Days in the City – Sequel to The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City. I have both of these on my TBR list. This time Josie is trying to find homes for 7 puppies.
Harry Potter Creatures – A laser-cut pop up book.
Lando’s Luck (Star Wars) – An original story starring Lando Calrissian (and the Millennium Falcon)
Misfits – A spin off from the Fairy Tale Reform School series by Jen Calonita. This series focuses on the Royal Academy and a princess trying to find her place in Enchantasia. I’ve already requested this one from the library.
The Reckless Club – The Breakfast Club meets The Golden Girls. Five teens who made questionable choices at the end of 8th grade find themselves spending the last Saturday of their summer “volunteering” at an old folks home for their punishment. I’ll be reviewing this one tomorrow – I loved it!
The Right Hook of Devin Velma – From the author of last year’s spectacular Greetings from Witness Protection comes this story about a boy who longs to be internet famous so he can pay for his dad’s medical treatment and his best friend who prefers the background but ends up in the limelight instead. I already pre-ordered this one based on how much I adored Greetings last year.
Search for Atlantis (DC Super Hero Girls Graphic Novel) – The kids at DC Super Hero High are back in this adventure where they are looking for the stolen underwater city of Atlantis. I will be reviewing this later this year, but I’ll tell you now that I loved this one. I think this series gets better and better with each book. The addition of Raven and Mera in this story line was fantastic.
Spy School Goes South – Book 6 in the Spy School series. When a captured spy offers intelligence that can help the CIA take down SPYDER, Ben is pretty sure the plan is too good to be true. And he’s absolutely right. This is a series I haven’t read but have on my TBR list.
Squint – Flint, nicknamed”Squint,” is a kid losing his eyesight who loves to draw comics. McKell is the new girl at school who wonders if Flint could be the friend who sees her for who she really is. I’ve requested this one from the library, too.
The Tornado Twins (The Flash) – Book 3 in the Flash series based on the CW series, but without Flashpoint. I enjoyed the first book in this series – this will be a hit with kids who love the TV show or kids who love superhero stories.
The Truth About Martians – A kid and his friends investigate the crash of a space ship near the boy’s Roswell, New Mexico home. I’m looking forward to reading this one.
Who Is Bono? AND Who Is Judy Blume?
Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side AND Be More Yoda: Mindful Thinking from a Galaxy Far Far Away – Hilarious small gift books that answer the question “What would Darth Vader or Yoda do?” These work for teens and adults. From the samples I have seen, these could be great for graduation gifts. I want to buy these for someone for Christmas just so I can read them, too.
Damsel – It’s always been this way – the king dies and his son heads off to slay a dragon and rescue a damsel. But when Ama, the damsel in question, wakes up after her rescue, she feels like things aren’t exactly as the old stories would have everyone believe. I’ve requested this one from the library, too.
Dry – From the author of the excellent Scythe series. A young woman finds herself alone and desperate to protect herself and her brother when the latest California drought hits catastrophic levels and the taps run dry. This sounds fascinating!
The Geography of Lost Things – When a girl inherits a classic car from her estranged father, she just wants to sell it so she can save her childhood home. But she’ll need her ex to drive it for her (it’s a manual transmission) which means she’s in for an awkward road trip. Yes! This sounds great.
The Infinite Pieces of Us – When a girl’s family hides out in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico to avoid her past, her new friends help her hit the road to pursue the truth. Another road trip book – and I am here for both of them!
The Perfect Candidate – A Capital Hill intern finds himself in the “perfect” position to help the FBI investigate the murder of a fellow staffer. Yes, please!
Swing – Two teens are trying to find their place in both school and their community. The plot for this one is pretty intricate. I’m eager to read this one.
What They Don’t Know – Told through journal entries, this is the story of two girls, one who withdraws after an “unspeakable act” and the other who longs to save her. I’ll be looking for this one, too.
(Don’t) Call Me Crazy – Thirty-three entries (essays, lists, comics, etc) to start a conversation about mental health. I’d like to check this one out, too.

Books for Adults

Alaskan Holiday (small-sized hardcover)- This year’s Christmas book from Debbie Macomber heads to Alaska where a Seattle sous-chef takes a summer gig but gets stuck in Alaska as winter sets in. I know my local library has already got this one on order.
Dead Air (e-book – October 3) – Serial Box is a new service that offers an e-book/audio book combo for stories that are released like a TV series, with one episode a week for a certain number of weeks. Dead Air is one of their newest stories, and the whole thing is now available in one chunk. This one is about a college radio show host who looks into a cold case murder. I haven’t taken the plunge to try Serial Box yet, but this particular story really grabbed my attention. I’ll be reading this one for sure.
An Easy Death (Hardcover) – Charlaine Harris (Sookie Stackhouse, Aurora Teagarden) kicks off a new series starring a gunslinger named Rose in an alternate United States after the assassination of FDR where magic is real but mistrusted. I requested this one from the library weeks ago, so I should be reading it soon!
End of Days (Trade Paperback) – Book 5 in the Chronicles of Brothers series. The series starts with three archangels – Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer – and the fall of one. By book 3 the focus shifts to three brothers and events on earth that are leading to the End of Days. I’d read a series like this; I enjoy Christian fantasy.
The Kennedy Debutante (Hardcover) – London, 1938. Oft forgotten Kennedy daughter, Kathleen, or “Kick,” is swept off her feet by the Duke of Devonshire, but their love is forbidden as she is Catholic and he is Protestant. The whole idea of this fascinates me. I’m putting this one on my list.
Kill the Queen (Trade Paperback) – First in the Crown of Shards series. When the queen is killed and the royal family is attacked, Evie (17th in line for the throne) survives because of a secret she is keeping. She goes into hiding, training with a group of gladiators, waiting to make her move on the cousin who tried to kill her. This looks and sounds amazing. I already requested this one from the library, too. The question is which book I will read first, this one or An Easy Death?
The Pint of No Return (Hardcover) – Book 2 in the Sloan Krause mystery series from the author of the Bakeshop Mysteries. Local brewmaster Sloan investigates the death of a movie star in Leavenworth, Washington. I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I did read a teaser the author wrote where Sloan meets the main character of the Bakeshop series.
Anne Frank’s Diary (Graphic Novel – Hardcover) –  A graphic novel adaptation of the classic.
It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time (Hardcover) – This book from Sheila Walsh focuses on picking up the pieces and accepting ourselves as we are.
Preach to Yourself: When Your Inner Critic Comes Calling, Talk Back with Truth (Trade Paperback) – Renew your mind to renew your life – less “try harder” and more “believe better.” This could be powerful!
The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God’s Mercy (Hardcover) – A look at the life of Jonah from the Bible. I’m fascinated by the story of Jonah – especially the ending which is left out of most children’s versions of the story. This is on my list.
Remember God (Paperback) – There are already over 200 reviews of this book on Amazon – apparently there was a free audio book offered for those who pre-ordered – and almost every one is five-stars! I’ve not read a book from Annie F. Downs yet, but I have heard her speak and I really like her work. This book, which focuses on the goodness and kindness of God, is on my list.
The Sparkle Effect: Step into the Radiance of Your True Identity (Paperback) – Another book on finding your identity in Christ. I love books like this – such an important topic.
Woke Church: An Urgent Call for Christians in America to Confront Racism and Injustice (Hardcover) – A challenge to the Church to Be Aware, Be Redemptive and Be Active. I will be buying this one for certain.